Cape Town - Calling all the strong and resilient women of the Mother City, the Weekend Argus is hosting the Women’s Wellness Experience on September 28, and here’s why you cannot miss out on all the jam-packed entertainment and informative sessions.
We’re hosting some of the Cape’s leading women from various health spaces to come out and share their wealth of knowledge with the all-female guest list.
Set against the backdrop of the beautiful President Hotel, the event aims to empower women through wellness. Attendees get to ask questions and engage with the services brought right to the event – all this coupled with an exciting goodie bag on the day.
One of the speakers set to engage with visitors is aesthetic and functional Gynaecologist, Dr Zethu Mtimkulu.
Dr Mtimkulu uncapped some of the topics ahead of the big day as she explained how hormonal changes during menopause can impact a woman’s overall health, beyond just the reproductive system.
“Hormonal changes have a major impact on a woman’s overall health from head to toe. It affects the whole biopsychosocial model. It may affect the woman physically, mentally, psychologically and socially.
“Heart, bone, joint and muscle health is severely compromised. The endocrine system is affected, eg new onset Type 2 diabetes mellitus, weight gain.”
She adds that the most common symptoms of menopause women should be aware of include hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, depression, irritability, mood swings, poor memory, poor concentration, loss of self-esteem, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, loss of libido, skin thinning, loss of muscle mass, tooth loss, joint aches and pains, incontinence and prolapse.
“There are pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities of managing menopausal symptoms. Pharmacological can be hormonal or non-hormonal modalities.
“Management with hormonal treatment also depends on whether the patient has contraindications to hormone usage or not. So, management is individualised. Non-hormonal medication can be used when there are contraindications to hormonal use or if the patient is not comfortable with using hormonal therapy.
“Non-hormonal medication is directed at the symptomatology and prevention of effects like bone loss. Non-pharmacological modalities would include things like diet, exercise, weight loss, wearing light clothing, reduction of hot beverages, reduction or stopping of smoking and alcohol, cognitive behavioural therapy.”
Dr Mtimkulu will also be touching on key insights to help women navigate the challenges of menopause.
She said: “We will look at the different types of menopause, namely premature menopause, peri-menopause, pre-menopause and post-menopause.” There will also be a segment on how menopause affects sexual health.
Dr Mtimkulu concludes: “Menopause has a major impact on sexual health. Because of the lack of oestrogen and testosterone when a woman goes into menopause, the libido goes down. Female sexual dysfunction sets in. Genitourinary syndrome of the menopause makes intimacy impossible.
“The symptoms of vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, burning sensation in the vagina, vaginal laxity with loss of sensation, contact bleeding due to atrophy. Diet, exercise, increase fluid intake, vaginal moisturisers and lubricants, seek medical advice. Aesthetic modalities now an option.”
Tickets cost R350 and are available via Quicket.
Cape Argus